Beaten But Not Dead...B^}
Beaten But Not Dead...B^}
29 Jun, 08 - 22:28
The ridgewalk/downclimb from High Camp(17,200ft/5244m) went quite nicely. Dawa and I both had heavy packs, but one was slightly heavier. Can you guess which one!? =^]
Dawa and Phill finally leaving High Camp
Dawa was still faster...and I'm still fatter. %^]
We traveled unroped over the precipitous ridge, so we were able to pass people who had left High Camp before us. Dawa and I have both been targets of some raised eyebrows and minor scorn for our 'ropeless' methodology. Experience smiled upon us though...and gave us nods of approval. It takes years to master walking in crampons, but once you do you never forget how. The cliché about 'riding a bike' applies here.
It was mostly cloudy and snowing...as it had been...for what seemed like forever. Downclimbing the fixed lines also went well...with a sort of friction rappel being put into use. I managed to take one or two good shots from the ridge that I will have to upload later...as I am running low on satellite phone battery power...and the signal tends to be pretty 'drifty' from where we are.
Presently, I am nestled into my blessed Zulu 9 sleeping bag...looking forward to the final and 'nocturnal' push to the 7200ft glacial airstrip. Hopefully, we won't have to set up camp again...if we march through the night to a morning flight off the glacier...back to Talkeetna!
Last night's trudge from 14,200ft camp to 11,000ft camp was brutal. Hours of knee deep snow...pulling a heavy sled through a total whiteout...was enjoyed. It was hard to tell up from down...and the marker wands were crucial to our route finding. Normally, I'd probably wait this kind of weather out, but we've got trains, planes and automobiles to catch to get us to Albuquerque on time. =^]
I am already pretty distraught about missing the 50th Anniversary party of some people I dearly love. They are celebrating as I type. =^{
We arrived at 11,000ft camp, very early Sunday morning, to blizzard like conditions. I hope I had the presence of mind to take a picture or video. What a ridiculous scene. So much snow had fallen and drifted in the last ten days that the camp in no way resembled what I remembered. It was not Winter Wonderland...but Horrible Hinterland.
With frozen...everything...we dug out a tent platform between some bumps that had previously been five foot walls. As I finally crawled into my sleeping bag, I found my left ear was quite swollen and blistered...but not frostbitten. Thank you, Fair Denali, for 'bending my ear'...yes...I know you can be harsh. =^]
Dawa has been a total trooper through all of this. He's snoozing away while I tap type on the HP Ipaq (I now realize it's an 'Ipaq'...not an 'Ipac'). People always tell me that mentally and physically I have the energy of many people...well Dawa is has me beat...hands down...in this winter mountain environment. While I was miserably freezing, he was looking like he was just playing in the snow. Too funny. At least we we're both still smiling! =^)
Hmmmm...it all of a sudden got quite a bit brighter in this tent. I poked my head out of the tent to find...some blue sky!? Please stay a while. I'd love our final leg to be under decent conditions. Clear(er) skies would also mean that flights off the glacier could happen. There haven't been any flights for the last few days...due to weather.
Time will tell...as it always does. =^]
Assuming we make it off the glacier in good order on Monday, we'll land in Talkeetna...pressure wash our revolting hulks and gear...jump into the Big White Wagon of the Tominator(who has been good enough to offer to collect us)...blaze to 'The Rage'(Anchorage)...clean and organize some more...and hop on the red eye to Albuquerque. This is how I hope things play out...please...please. =^]
We are planning on spending the better part of three days with some Scouts(and parents) from Boston. We are facilitating a pre-acclimatization for a longish 'out trip' they are doing in New Mexico...so we'll be back up at 10000ft+ by Wednesday. It's going to be great for those people to meet and spend time with a real, live Sherpa from Nepal! =^)
The environment near Taos is going to be quite a contrast from what I am experiencing this minute...that's for sure! B^)
Bill and Lil (of Albuquerque) have become instrumental in making this three day trip with the Bostonians happen properly...and they are also going to be instrumental in helping Dawa and I explore the Taos/Four Corners regions by quad(s) after the Scout trip. They are truly hospitable, wonderful people...and I can't wait to see them! =^)
If you are subscribed to my blog (http://blog.secretspoteverest.com) ...you will also soon see Bill and Lil...and continue to watch Dawa experience things that most North Americans will never be lucky enough to absorb.
Join us. B^)
Until Soon
Phill =^)
PHILL MICHAEL | Expedition Leader and Summit Climber
Everest Freestyle Expedition/Secret Spot Seven Summits
SecretSpot.NET
SecretSpot7Summits.com
SecretSpotEverest.com
Blog.SecretSpotEverest.com
29 Jun, 08 - 22:28
The ridgewalk/downclimb from High Camp(17,200ft/5244m) went quite nicely. Dawa and I both had heavy packs, but one was slightly heavier. Can you guess which one!? =^]
Dawa and Phill finally leaving High Camp
Dawa was still faster...and I'm still fatter. %^]
We traveled unroped over the precipitous ridge, so we were able to pass people who had left High Camp before us. Dawa and I have both been targets of some raised eyebrows and minor scorn for our 'ropeless' methodology. Experience smiled upon us though...and gave us nods of approval. It takes years to master walking in crampons, but once you do you never forget how. The cliché about 'riding a bike' applies here.
It was mostly cloudy and snowing...as it had been...for what seemed like forever. Downclimbing the fixed lines also went well...with a sort of friction rappel being put into use. I managed to take one or two good shots from the ridge that I will have to upload later...as I am running low on satellite phone battery power...and the signal tends to be pretty 'drifty' from where we are.
Presently, I am nestled into my blessed Zulu 9 sleeping bag...looking forward to the final and 'nocturnal' push to the 7200ft glacial airstrip. Hopefully, we won't have to set up camp again...if we march through the night to a morning flight off the glacier...back to Talkeetna!
Last night's trudge from 14,200ft camp to 11,000ft camp was brutal. Hours of knee deep snow...pulling a heavy sled through a total whiteout...was enjoyed. It was hard to tell up from down...and the marker wands were crucial to our route finding. Normally, I'd probably wait this kind of weather out, but we've got trains, planes and automobiles to catch to get us to Albuquerque on time. =^]
I am already pretty distraught about missing the 50th Anniversary party of some people I dearly love. They are celebrating as I type. =^{
We arrived at 11,000ft camp, very early Sunday morning, to blizzard like conditions. I hope I had the presence of mind to take a picture or video. What a ridiculous scene. So much snow had fallen and drifted in the last ten days that the camp in no way resembled what I remembered. It was not Winter Wonderland...but Horrible Hinterland.
With frozen...everything...we dug out a tent platform between some bumps that had previously been five foot walls. As I finally crawled into my sleeping bag, I found my left ear was quite swollen and blistered...but not frostbitten. Thank you, Fair Denali, for 'bending my ear'...yes...I know you can be harsh. =^]
Dawa has been a total trooper through all of this. He's snoozing away while I tap type on the HP Ipaq (I now realize it's an 'Ipaq'...not an 'Ipac'). People always tell me that mentally and physically I have the energy of many people...well Dawa is has me beat...hands down...in this winter mountain environment. While I was miserably freezing, he was looking like he was just playing in the snow. Too funny. At least we we're both still smiling! =^)
Hmmmm...it all of a sudden got quite a bit brighter in this tent. I poked my head out of the tent to find...some blue sky!? Please stay a while. I'd love our final leg to be under decent conditions. Clear(er) skies would also mean that flights off the glacier could happen. There haven't been any flights for the last few days...due to weather.
Time will tell...as it always does. =^]
Assuming we make it off the glacier in good order on Monday, we'll land in Talkeetna...pressure wash our revolting hulks and gear...jump into the Big White Wagon of the Tominator(who has been good enough to offer to collect us)...blaze to 'The Rage'(Anchorage)...clean and organize some more...and hop on the red eye to Albuquerque. This is how I hope things play out...please...please. =^]
We are planning on spending the better part of three days with some Scouts(and parents) from Boston. We are facilitating a pre-acclimatization for a longish 'out trip' they are doing in New Mexico...so we'll be back up at 10000ft+ by Wednesday. It's going to be great for those people to meet and spend time with a real, live Sherpa from Nepal! =^)
The environment near Taos is going to be quite a contrast from what I am experiencing this minute...that's for sure! B^)
Bill and Lil (of Albuquerque) have become instrumental in making this three day trip with the Bostonians happen properly...and they are also going to be instrumental in helping Dawa and I explore the Taos/Four Corners regions by quad(s) after the Scout trip. They are truly hospitable, wonderful people...and I can't wait to see them! =^)
If you are subscribed to my blog (http://blog.secretspoteverest.com) ...you will also soon see Bill and Lil...and continue to watch Dawa experience things that most North Americans will never be lucky enough to absorb.
Join us. B^)
Until Soon
Phill =^)
PHILL MICHAEL | Expedition Leader and Summit Climber
Everest Freestyle Expedition/Secret Spot Seven Summits
SecretSpot.NET
SecretSpot7Summits.com
SecretSpotEverest.com
Blog.SecretSpotEverest.com
Comments